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A residential design firm dedicated to improve home improvement with efficient, effective communication. |
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We’ve been working on some home projects for a long time. Yes, it’s like the cobbler’s children that have no shoes, but our projects are finally getting resolved.
This last weekend, I completed installing the boys bedroom flooring. Then we sanded and finished with polyurethane. The last coat went on last night.
I would encourage anyone to try projects out, but if you’re not confident about it, hire a professional.
We used Lumber Liquidator’s utility flooring. To use this, you either need to increase your waste calculations, or have a woodshop nearby. We were able to re-work quite a bit of the wood, and for us it was worth the extra work.
We don’t mind the look that some of the boards give. A few places have blemishes and isn’t just perfect. Some holes I filled with a two-part wood filler.
We are completely happy with the end result.
I was recently involved in reviewing a foreclosed home for a couple who were considering purchasing the property. Apparently, the fireplace had been leaning into the living room, away from the wall.
For reasons I won’t go into here, they removed the fireplace, and exposed this.
…continue reading Small mistakes can bite you »
You’ve heard the saying, “the devil’s in the details” right? Typically, this saying is used negatively as a reaction to something unexpected happening to those “best laid plans.” At the end of this article is a picture of one of such details.
I like to turn this saying into a positive, pro-active tool during our projects as a reminder that details do matter. How do they matter? When do they matter? Why do they matter? Can we keep the devil away?
…continue reading Devil in the Details »
Our design/build team recently completed an attic renovation project design. Working with Joe Dellanno (www.mydesignbuildproject.com) and Gerry Dunleavy (www.dunleavyconstruction.com), we were able to give our clients their needs.
Our clients wanted to expand their attic space to include a home office, guest bedroom, a bedroom for their daughter, and a larger bathroom. Considering that the finish level in the attic wasn’t up to the rest of the home, they wanted to also match the details in the rest of the house.
…continue reading Can I get some light in here? »
In a poll we recently published, one respondent asked how using a design firm can help save money in the long run. Good question, thanks for asking.
It does seem to be an oxymoron to say that one can save money by spending it. Old adages about saving & earning pennies, getting what you pay for, etc., often lead one to sidestep what could be the most important part of any project: planning. In order to save money on your next remodeling project, I believe we must discuss Proper Planning, Effective Presentation, and Critical Collaboration.
…continue reading Saving money by design »
My son had a friend stay overnight last night, and he brought his RipStik® to play with. Just out of curiosity, I had to try it today.
Let me tell you that as easy as those young kids make it, it ISN’T! I’ve seen these toys before, and often wondered how they did it – on two wheels that swivel, no less! I fell off many times this afternoon, while my daughter and son were offering their sage advise: “Maybe if you were younger, Daddy” and “Dad, you just start by pushing off and then move your feet.” Ah, the great wisdom of a 7 and 9 year-old!
…continue reading Try, try again »
This morning the TEAM approach came thru again. A homeowner was so happy with the process presented to them on their pantry/entry addition, that they asked the team to look at their exterior deck.
While it was “tempting” to go with the first thought that came to our collective minds, the prognosis
…continue reading Just another ugly ramp? »
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been reading a LOT about Building Information Modeling (BIM) lately. Even Warren Buffet is talking about BIM! It used to be that BIM was used strictly for larger corporations who were building medium to large manufacturing plants or offices. But now, people are talking about BIM for homes – yours and mine! Does that seem odd to you? Corporations are using this technology to save them money on their large projects. If this technology could be used for your betterment, would that be relevant?
…continue reading BIM for my home? »
We’ve all heard the acronym for the word TEAM, right? Together Everyone Achieves More. How true that is, but only if the team is on the same page! This truism affects both sides
…continue reading The value of a TEAM »
A college friend of mine posted this on his blog. Since we discuss upgrading, improvements, and remodeling, I thought I’d share it with you too. This is quite a view…I think I’d want to see the engineering before I stepped out! What do you think? All I can say is: “AAAAAAAAAAAA.” 
…continue reading Talk about an upgrade! »